Method of permanently changing configuration of modacrylic hair

ABSTRACT

SYNTHETIC MODACRYLIC HAIR DIMENSIONALLY STABLE AT TEMPERATURE AT LEAST AS HIGH AS 212*F., IN THE FORM OF WIGS, ARE GIVEN A PREMANENT DEFORMATION WITHOUT CHANGE OF LUSTER CONDITION BY SHAPING THE HAIR TO THE DESIRED FORM AND HEATING IN THE RANGE 120* TO 170*F. IN CONTACT WITH WATER FOR FIVE TO THIRTY MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY COOLING AND DRYING. THIS METHOD MAKES PRACTICAL THE HOME OR BEAUTY SHOP PERMANENT RESTYLING OF WIGS.

United States Patent 3,621,852 METHOD OF PERMANENTLY CHANGING CON- FIGURATIONOF MODACRYLIC HAIR Hyman Henkin, Glencoe, and Norman L. Edelberg, Des Plaines, Il]., assignors to Helene Curtis Industries, Inc., Chicago, II]. No Drawing. Filed July 11, 1969, Ser. No. 841,131

Int. Cl. A45d 44/00 US. Cl. 132-1 R 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Synthetic modacrylic hair dimensionally stable at temperatures at least as high as 212 F., in the form of wigs, are given a permanent deformation Without change of luster condition by shaping the hair to the desired form and heating in the range 120 to 170 F. in contact with water for five to thirty minutes, followed by cooling and drying. This method makes practical the home or beauty shop permanent restyling of wigs.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of permanently changing the configuration of synthetic hair, such as is used for manufacturing wigs. In particular, it relates to the permanent deformation of synthetic hair composed of modacrylic fibers.

A number of synthetic fibers can be used for making wigs, but those which most nearly approach the texture and appearance of human hair are the modacrylic fibers. The term modacrylic is generic to fibers containing 35% to 85% by weight acrylonitrile. Such fibers produced from copolymers of acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride in various proportions find application in making synthetic hair for wigs. The preferred ratio range is about 35/ 6-5 to 40/60 acrylonitrile to vinyl chloride. In particular the invention is applicable to the fibers disclosed in Rugeley et al., Pat. No. 2,420,565, produced from copolymerized vinyl halide and acrylonitrile and containing between about 45% to 80% vinyl halide. Commercial examples are known by the trade name Dynel type 150 and Kanekalon, types KW and KN. The fibers may be produced by the manufacturer in substantially colorless form designated as tow, and the tow then is dyed to the desired color. Or the copolymers may incorporate the desired color of pigment or other dye and the color mixture then is extruded into fibrous form.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART If a permanently curled fiber is derised, the fiber is maintained in the desired configuration in an oven exposed to dry heat at 180 F. or higher, and then slowly cooled. It is considered necessary to maintain close temperature control, and after curling the fiber is given a relusterizing treatment, because the treatment may delusterize the fiber. Modacrylic fiber that is thus permanently deformed generally will permanently retain its configuration until heated dry to or above the temperature at which the original permanent deformation occurred. Heretofore, if a person desired to convert a straight hair wig of modacrylic fibers into a curly wig, it Was necessary to have this done by an experienced technician who has equipment for dry heating the hair in an oven at a constant temperature above 180 F. while maintaining the hair in the desired configuration. As this treatment may delusterize the modacrylic fiber it is usually necessary therafter to give the fiber a relusterizing treatment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention modacrylic fibers dimensionally stable at temperatures at least as high as 3,621,852 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 212 R, such as the pile fibers or synthetic hair in wigs, are given a permanent configuration by exposing them to Water maintained in the range of about 120 F. to 170 F. While maintaining the fiber in the desired configuration. The water and heat may be applied by immersion in a bath of water at the desired temperature or by application of saturated steam in a closed chamber. After the desired time of treatment, which may vary between about 5 to 30 minutes, the fibers are removed from the water, cooled, and dried While maintained in the desired configuration. This treatment results in a self sustaining change in configuration and does not change the luster condition of the fiber, so that in so treating lusterized fiber no relusterizing treatment is necessary.

For example, if it is desired to permanently curl the modacrylic pile hair fibers in a wig, the pile hair is wound upon suitable cold 'waving rods, which hold the hair in the desired configuration during the treatment. The diameter of the rods or rollers is selected to produce a tight curl or loose curl as desired. The permanent waving rod shown in design Pat. No. 139,684 illustrates one suitable form of rod. After exposing the hair on the rods to hot water for the desired time, which may be about five to thirty minutes, depending on the temperature, the hair is cooled on the rods to well below 120, so as to set the curl, after which the hair is dried (before or after removal of the rods). In drying the temperature should be well below 120, and drying by ambient temperature air is satisfactory.

Modacrylic hair which has been curled in this manner can be repeatedly shampooed in cool or luke warm water (below about 100 F.) without loss of curl. If it is de- 1 sired, thereafter to restyle the wig, this can be done in the same way by exposure to water at least as hot as previously used in the above described treatment.

It is generally considered by the prior art that to change the configuration of modacrylic hair previously stabilized at or above 180 F., the hair had to be heated to or above the stabilization temperature, even though this frequently required relusterizing the hair. It would appear therefore that the art was not aware that in the presence of water the hair could be given a permanent changed configuration at a temperature lower than that used for stabilizing the fiber. The process of this invention can be employed to impart a permanent wave to the modacrylic wig hair, or to straighten curly modacrylic wig hair without delusterizing the hair, and thus omits the need for relusterizing treatment.

By reason of the low temperature employed, and elimination of need to relusterize the fiber, the curling of a straight hair wig, straightening of a curly hair wig, and other changes in styling of a wig having a modacrylic hair pile, can be carried out without special apparatus. The domestic thermostat controlled water heater usually is set at 160 F., so that water is readily available at a temperature range of 120 to F. in the home, this being the preferred range of treatment. At about 160 F., immersion for above five minutes is suflicient to produce a permanent curl, and longer exposure at such temperature is not injurious to the luster. Accurate temperature control is not necessary, and so long as the temperature is kept below about F., delusterizing does not occur. In the lower temperature range longer treatment is required. The time of treatment may vary between about five minutes to thirty minutes.

The invention is illustrated by the following examples:

Wig of Kane kelon dyed lusterized modacrylic hair. The wig is placed on a wig block and pinned securely in place, and if desired may be sprayed with a suitable 3 wig hair dressing. It is brushed to remove tangles and snarls and if desired, it may be tapered or thinned with a suitable cutting instrument. The hair then is moistened and rolled with end papers on cold wave rods or rollers in the desired pattern. A net is then placed over the Wig to secure the rollers in place and the hairpiece is immersed in a basin of hot water at about 140 F. for about five minutes. The wig then is immersed immediately in a basin of cool water (normal unheated tap water) for about two minutes. The wig then is removed from the water, the rollers are removed, and the hair is blotted dry with a towel, and allowed to air dry.

In the case of a fall, it is preferred to blot dry with the rollers in place and allow the hair piece to air dry before removing the rollers.

A similar Wig is put up on rods as described in Example I, and is immersed in water at about 120 F. for thirty minutes, and then dried as described in Example I with similar results.

The invention is applicable to imparting a permanent configuration to the described modacrylic fibers or filaments used for other purposes, as for example, for imparting a permanent crease to textile cloth manufactured from such fibers or filaments.

We claim:

1. The method of changing the configuration of modacrylic fibers dimensionally stable at temperatures at least as high as 212 R, which comprises: retaining the fibers in a desired configuration while exposing them to Water in the temperature range of 120 to 170 F. for at least about five minutes followed by cooling, and then drying the fibers at a temperature below 120 F.

2. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein exposure of the fibers is carried out by immersion in a body of heated water.

3. The method as specified in claim 2 wherein the fibers are in the form of generally parallel pile hairs in a wig, and are rolled on a rod to retain the fibers in the desired configuration.

4. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein exposure of the fibers is carried out by contact with water vapor generated by condensing saturated steam in a chamber on the fibers.

5. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the fibers are a copolymer of about /65 to acrylonitrile to vinyl chloride.

6. The method as specified in claim 5 wherein the fibers are in the form of generally parallel pile hairs in a wig, and are maintained rolled on a rod during heating and drying to retain the fibers in the desired configuration.

7. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the fibers are maintained in the form of generally parallel pile hairs in a wig.

8. The method as specified in claim 7 wherein the fibers are maintained rolled on a rod during heating and drying to retain the fibers in the desired configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,939,323 12/1933 Slavick 132-7 2,133,638 10/1938 Singerman 1327 2,468,081 4/1949 Koster 8l49.3 3,083,073 3/1963 Leins et al. 8l49.3 3,199,516 8/1965 Frishman 132-5 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner 

